1. Caring for Your Land Series of Workshops Invasive Species Introduction Module 1

2. What are Invasives?  Species extending beyond their natural range  Tend to have a combination of negative impacts  economic  ecological  social impacts

3. Module 1 Definitions  Invasives  implies exotic and a threat to native species  Exotics  from another part of the world  Introduced Species  implies introduction but not a threat  Alien Species  Implies introduction to a particular ecosystem

4. Module 1 Definitions - Noxious vs. Invasive  Primarily talking about plants  Not all Invasive plants are noxious  Noxious plants are weeds that are unwanted in a particular area at a particular time  Noxious plants usually threaten agriculture

5. Module 1 Definitions - Noxious vs. Invasive Common Milkweed Noxious but not invasive

6. Module 1 Definitions - Noxious vs. Invasive Common Buckthorn Noxious and invasive

7. Module 1 How do they get here? Accidentally Released Deliberately Released

8. Module 1 How do they get here?

9. Module 1 Impacts of invasive species Direct costs in lives (diseases), crop losses Costs of interdiction and control programs Costs in terms of reduced ecosystem function/services Costs in terms of biodiversity loss

10. Module 1 Economic Impacts Billions per year from Lost agricultural productivity Lost forest productivity Lost recreational opportunity Lost commercial and recreational fishing opportunity

11. Module 1 Ecological Impacts Significant threat to native species and ecosystems Can cause species to go extinct Reduce the biological diversity in an area Can change the timing and severity of fire cycles

12. Module 1 Social Impacts Invasive species change the way we live… West Nile Virus Imported Red Fire Ant Shell Fish Poisoning Asian Longhorned Beetle

13. Module 1 Should We Worry?  Not all invasive species are pests  Not all invasive species have negative impacts

14. Module 1 A beneficial invasive…  the common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)  helps maintain soil fertility and structure and is an invaluable fishing partner  introduced to North America in ballast soil from ships Earthworms

15. Module 1 Farm Crops  over 90% of North America’s food and feed production is derived from intentionally introduced exotic species

16. Module 1 Many exotic species are relatively harmless  The chance of an invasive species becoming a serious pest is quite low, and depends on:  size of introduction  adaptability of the organism  habitat suitability  level of competition  predation  disease  other organisms in similar niches

17. Module 1 Examples deliberately introduced species  Ring-necked Pheasant, Hungarian partridge

18. Module 1 Some species become problems  Once established, exotic species can have serious negative impacts  In North America 300 tree feeding insects native to Europe are established  800 of the roughly 5000 plant species are not supposed to be here

19. Module 1 Three steps … for a invasive species to become a problem in Canada 1) Introduction 2) Establishment 3) Spread

20. Module 1 1. Introduction  Exotic species arrive through:  natural processes, or  human activity

21. Module 1 Natural Processes  Species can be blown in  animals native to the U.S. have moved north  Species ranges change naturally - have been moving north for 10000 years 1. Introduction

22. Module 1 Natural Processes A great egret

23. Module 1 Human Activity  either accidental  earthworms, Sea Lamprey, Alewife  or intentional  Carp, Buckthorn, Purple Loosestrife, Garlic Mustard 1. Introduction

24. Module 1 Asian Carp

25. Module 1 2. Establishment  The majority of introduced exotics do not become established.  Establishment occurs if the organism can successfully reproduce and maintain a population.  There may be considerable lag time between introduction and establishment

26. Module 1 2. Establishment Red-eared Slider Eastern Painted

27. Module 1 European Gypsy Moth  introduced into U.S. 1869  first population explosion 1889  moved into Ontario 1969  first defoliation observed in Ontario 1984 2. Establishment

28. Module 1 Chestnut blight  An introduced fungus  50 years between introduction from China and establishment in U.S. 2. Establishment

29. Module 1 3. Spread Once established, an exotic will spread into other suitable habitats depending on:  tolerance to climate  habitat needs  physical barriers (e.g. Rocky Mountains)

30. Module 1 3. Spread Physical Barrier Climatic Barrier Climatic Barrier Habitat Barrier Habitat Barrier

31. Module 1 3. Spread

32. Module 1 What makes an invasive, invasive? “Weedy” characteristics help exotic species become established and rapidly spread  rapid growth under a wide range of soil and climate conditions  rapid reproductive rates, or production of an overabundance of seeds  one mature Purple Loosestrife plant can produce over 2 million seeds/year

33. Module 1  excellent dispersal mechanisms  Raccoon rabies travels in infected raccoons which may hitch rides on campers or trucks  Gypsy Moth egg masses are also moved on vehicles and camping equipment  West Nile virus can be carried hundreds of miles in infected birds What makes an invasive, invasive?

34. Module 1  exotic plants may also spread vegetatively, through rhizomes or pieces of a mature plant What makes an invasive, invasive?

35. Module 1 Invasives are Free to Grow  exotic species also have no natural biological controls  without these biological controls, establishment and spread is much easier

36. Module 1 Some examples from other parts of the world

37. Module 1 Some examples from other parts of the world Brown Tree Snake

38. Module 1 Some examples from other parts of the world King snake

39. Module 1 Kudzu Some examples from other parts of the world

40. Module 1 Cane Toad Some examples from other parts of the world

41. Module 1 Red Imported Fire Ant Some examples from other parts of the world

42. Module 1 Red Imported Fire Ant Some examples from other parts of the world

43. Module 1 Velvet Tree Some examples from other parts of the world

44. Module 1 Asian Long Horned Beetle Some examples from other parts of the world

45. Module 1 Asian Long Horned Beetle Whitespotted Sawyer Some examples from other parts of the world

46. Module 1 Feral Animals Some examples from other parts of the world

47. Module 1 Northern Snakehead Fish Some examples from other parts of the world

48. Module 1 Fish Hook Water Flea Cercopagis pengoi Some examples from other parts of the world

49. Module 1 Comb Jelly Fish Some examples from other parts of the world

50. Module 1 English Ivy Some examples from other parts of the world

51. Module 1 Giant Hogweed Some examples from other parts of the world

52. Module 1 Sudden Oak Death Some examples from other parts of the world

53. Module 1 African Clawed Frog Some examples from other parts of the world

54. Module 1 Subterranean Termites Some examples from other parts of the world

55. Module 1 Some examples from other parts of the world

56. Module 1 Presentation made possible by  Ontario Forestry Association  Eastern Ontario Model Forest  Human Resources Development Canada  Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources  Ontario Stewardship Program  With contributions from:  City of Ottawa  Purdue University